Massachusetts experiences one other EEE case: ‘Avoid peak mosquito biting hours’

One other particular person has been contaminated with EEE within the Bay State, as native officers urge residents to maintain utilizing insect repellent and “avoid peak mosquito biting hours.”

The Massachusetts Division of Public Health on Monday introduced a fourth human case of Jap Equine Encephalitis within the state this 12 months.

The case is a person in his 50s who was uncovered in part of Middlesex County that’s at excessive danger for EEE.

The area is dealing with a significant outbreak of mosquito-borne ailments this season. Lately, a person in New Hampshire died from EEE.

“This year’s EEE season has been particularly active and is generating a lot of concern in communities across Massachusetts,” mentioned Public Health Commissioner Robbie Goldstein. “While EEE remains a rare disease, the risk level is elevated in multiple communities.

“With the weather forecast showing warm, sunny weather for the rest of the week, we recommend that people take necessary precautions in areas of elevated risk,” Goldstein added. “This includes recommending that residents and towns in areas at high risk for EEE reschedule their evening outdoor events to avoid peak mosquito biting hours from dusk to dawn.”

There have been 91 EEE-positive mosquito samples in Massachusetts this 12 months.

Whereas most exercise has been centered in Plymouth and Worcester counties, contaminated mosquitoes have additionally been present in Bristol, Essex, and Middlesex counties.

EEE is transmitted to people via the chunk of an contaminated mosquito. The final outbreak of EEE in Massachusetts occurred in 2019-2020, and resulted in 17 human circumstances with seven deaths.

Along with this 12 months’s 4 human circumstances, EEE has additionally been recognized in two horses in Massachusetts.